Do over

At 11:44 a.m. EDT, the Obama campaign put out a statement that was dismissive, bordering on insulting to John McCain, for his pick of Sarah Palin as Republican vice presidential candidate: “Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency.”

Less than 90 minutes later, and after receiving some serious criticism, and after other Democrats put out more measured statements, the campaign has now put out a far more careful response. Both are pasted below. And it’s just an observation, but does the lower-case “r” in Republican suggest the haste with which the Obama campaign wanted to get a new statement out?

11:44 a.m. - From campaign spokesman Bill Burton:

“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same,” said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

“We send our congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the republican nominee for Vice President. It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign,” said Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden.

— Stephen Dinan, national political correspondent, The Washington Times